Awful cancellation experience

I am absolutely appauled by Vodacom! I have been a loyal Vodacom client for many years and now had to cancel my contracts due to immigration at the end of the month. Needless to say, it was an awful experience! The Vodacom shops do not do cancellations at all, they are quite happy to welcome new clients and transfer ownership though, as long as you are not leaving Vodacom, they are thrilled to assist (I do have to commend Vodashop Scottburgh staff though, they really did try very hard).

The call centre agents in the cancellation department do not know unfortunately what they are talking about. I got a quote, paid the outstanding amount and was told that my service would terminate at the end of July. I phoned back at least 4 times to triple check this, as I need my contract to remain open to make phone calls in relation to my move. Today, not 10 minutes after being PROMISED that the number will not be converted before month end, all my data disappeared and I got converted to prepaid, after which an email got sent (noreply email address of course) saying that I was converted today. How is this possible, given that 3 agents of the cancellations department specifically said that this would not be the case, and that I should not worry.

Let me not get started on my data line. This line costs R199.00 per month and I have 13 months left on the contract. I needed to cancel this line too (it is of no use to me abroad), and phoned Vodacom cancellations. I got quoted over the phone R736 ex VAT. When the email quote arrived, it amounted to R5001.00. This was a SIM only deal (no device) with no hidden charges - until you want to cancel. Following several phone calls, each time being quoted a different cancellation fee by a different agent, and every time receiving a written quote thereafter from Vodacom in excess of R5000, I got transferred to Collections, then Billing and Customer Care, none of whom were in any position to tell me what the real value of the contract cancellation would be (it would be cheaper just to keep on paying R200 per month for 13 months and not get any value for it than to cancel according to their quotes). It is very clear to me that Vodacom is in it only for the money and could not give a hoot about their customers, even those that are forced by circumstance to terminate their contracts. As long as money is received, that is the end of it. I wish it could end another way, but I will NEVER take up a Vodacom contract again, and nor do I recommend the network to anyone, unless you want days of trouble cancelling when you need to.

Very disappointed indeed.